Heat Battle in North America: How FIFA is Responding to Extreme Temperatures with Cooling Breaks and Adjusted Kick-Off Times

10.05.2026 08:30 FIFA
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, players and fans will face not only a sporting mega-event of superlatives, but also a climatic challenge. With 16 venues ranging from cool Vancouver in the north to humid and hot Monterrey, FIFA must respond to extreme weather conditions. The summer heat in cities like Dallas, Houston, Miami, or Kansas City poses a significant risk – both to the health of the professionals and to the quality of play. Already at the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA, the problematic conditions became apparent. Players complained about temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, combined with high humidity. Coaches like Borussia Dortmund's Niko Kovac spoke openly of "unacceptable" conditions, and some players had to be treated for circulation problems. FIFA has learned from these experiences and announced a comprehensive package of measures for the 2026 World Cup. At the center are the so-called cooling breaks – official cooling pauses in the 30th and 75th minutes of play. These become mandatory from a Wet-Bulb-Globe Temperature (WBGT) of 32 degrees. Unlike the brief drinking breaks at previous tournaments, the new cooling breaks last up to three minutes and allow players to recover with ice vests, cold towels, and electrolyte drinks. Medical teams on the sideline continuously monitor temperature and humidity. Another lever is the kick-off times. While TV contracts traditionally resulted in midday kick-offs in the USA to serve the European prime-time market, FIFA plans a more differentiated solution for 2026. Games in particularly hot cities should, where possible, be held in the evening or in air-conditioned stadiums. Arenas in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Vancouver have retractable roofs and air conditioning – a clear location advantage. Mexico's high-altitude locations like Mexico City and Guadalajara also offer milder temperatures, though with the challenge of thin air. Team preparations will also be shaped by climatic conditions. The DFB has already announced it will specifically prepare its team for heat stress – with training camps in warm regions and acclimatized game analysis. The draw will show which cities the German national team will play its group matches in. Criticism, meanwhile, comes from the players' union FIFPRO, which is calling for stricter thresholds. According to the association, game postponements should be considered from a WBGT of 28 degrees. Studies show that injury susceptibility increases significantly in extreme heat and running performance decreases by up to ten percent. Fans in the stadiums are also affected: FIFA has promised additional water stations, shaded areas, and medical posts. The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever with 48 teams and 104 matches – and simultaneously a test case for how world football deals with climate change. Attention is already turning to the 2030 World Cup, which will be held partly in Spain and Morocco, and to the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia, where heat issues will likely reach an entirely new dimension. Whether the measures taken will be sufficient will be seen in the summer of 2026. What is certain: heat will be a decisive factor at the tournament alongside tactics and talent.